Three Pigeons Post: Anytime Sessions week ending Sunday 9 August: Hitting 100 and Topping Out

With a heatwave caused by air from North Africa (dubbed a ‘Saharan Blowtorch’), Friday 7 August proved to be the hottest August day in 17 years with 36.4C recorded at Kew. With no shade at the Three Pigeon, the mercury was reaching even higher and the focus was on watering.

And it wasn’t just the thermometer reaching over 100F (37.78C) at the Three Pigeons: 3P stalwarts and superheroes Adam and Salwa both got their wings this week, reaching 100 Good Deeds.

Here’s what we got up to:

Cathy & Kate, ‘Bonus Report’ from 31 July.

I keep missing the run reports because there are so many happening they drop off the edit list Really quickly! Here’s some pictures I took of Cathy when we went on Friday 31st. I know JP had been at lunch but it was bone dry when we got there in the evening & there was quite a lot of litter which was a shame. Anyway we watered & tidied & left in a good state. Glad you found the sign. There was a huge spider web across the front of the roof when we arrived, so the hotel is definitely attracting occupants.

Anita. Tuesday 4 August.

Watering.

Harry & Anita, Wednesday 5 August.

Harry went down in the evening to complete the tiling of the new roof, also adding a strip of metal flashing (recycled from an access floor plate) to the ridge of the roof.
Anita watered.

JP & Salwa, Thursday 6 August. ‘Bee-ing Bzzzy’.

JP and Salwa cycled along to 3 Pigeons on this hot, dry Thursday afternoon. The plot was looking lovely in the sunshine, but was in need of some water and a touch of TLC. JP took on the task of watering, while Salwa did some weeding, clearing and tidying around the edges. The insect hotel seems to bee quite bzzzy as quite a few bees, butterflies and creepy crawlies were spotted on the grounds!

Anita and Molly the Dog. Thursday 6 August. ‘Hot Dog Second helpings’. Anita combined a Goodgym Mission with a watering session, taking Mrs B’s dog Molly for a walk along the Thames path to The Three Pigeons. Although someone had already been to water, in the scorching heat the ground was already beginning to dry and was happy to receive a second soaking.

Harry & Anita Sunday 9 August. Topping Out Ceremony.

Having written the run report for the morning’s Group Mission and belatedly googled ‘topping out’, Anita realised there should have been a tree, a drink and a small ceremony to recognise the completion of the slate roof. So Harry and Anita returned in the evening to decorate the new roof with a small ‘tree’, in honour of the trees that provided the timber for the pallets and roof frame of The Three Pigeons Insect Hotel. A few words were said and a toast made in celebration.